Melanoma

See also : Skin Cancer
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that arises when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) mutate and become cancerous. Most pigment cells are found in the skin, although melanoma can also occur in the eyes (ocular melanoma) and other parts of the body, such as the intestines (this is rare). It is very rare in people with dark skin. Melanoma is just one type of Skin Cancer and is much less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. However, melanoma is an especially dangerous type of skin cancer because it is more likely to spread (metastasize).

Symptoms

Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or "ugly looking." Thinking of "ABCDE" can help you remember what to watch for:

• Asymmetry - the shape of one half does not match the other
• Border - the edges are ragged, blurred or irregular
• Color - the color is uneven and may include shades of black, brown and tan
• Diameter - there is a change in size, usually an increase
• Evolving - the mole has changed over the past few weeks or months

Home remedies

• As the aim of skin cancer therapy is to completely remove the cancer, surgery is the most common treatment for melanoma.
• Wrightia tinctoria : DW-F5 is a novel formulation against malignant melanoma from Wrightia tinctoria.
• Dandelion root extract was clinically proven in 2011 to specifically induce apoptosis in chemo-resistant melanoma (a type of skin cancer)—without toxicity to healthy cells.
• Taraxacum japonicum, a species of dandelion native to Japan, has also been shown to suppress two stages of carcinogenesis, namely, tumor initiation and promotion.
• polyphenols significantly reduces melanoma metastasis to the lungs, with curcumin, catechin, rutin (from figs, apples, and tea), epicatechin (from dark chocolate), and naringin and naringenin (from grapefruit) reducing lung tumor colonies by 89.28%, 82.2%, 71.2%, 61%, 27.2%, and 26.1%, respectively
• Turmeric prevents melanoma by causing existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
• Pawpaw suppressed growth in cultured cells of several cancers, such as leukemia, small-cell Lung Cancer, Colon Cancer,Melanoma, Ovarian Cancer, Renal Cancer.
• Ginger and its constituents have been studied to inhibit Melanoma.
• Limonoids have shown cytotoxicity to breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, neuroblastoma, leukemia, melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
• Hibiscus : Gossypin, a natural Hibiscus extract may be an effective Melanoma treatment.
• Glycoalkaloids
• Blushwood Berry : Researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, headed by Dr. Glen Boyle, used an experimental drug produced from the seeds of blushwood berries called EBC-46. They used this drug succesfull to treat spots of melanoma.
• Propolis showed strong cancer inhibitory effects against melanoma.
• Cinnamon treatment has also been found to inhibit the expression of regulators of tumor progression in melanoma cells
• Vitamin B3 : potential of nicotinamide for preventing melanoma in high-risk individuals. Nicotinamide can help reduce or reverse DNA damage, inflammation, and immunosuppression caused by ultraviolet radiation.
• Ashwagandha : a crude water extract of ashwagandha reduced viability of human malignant melanoma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Morphological changes in ashwagandha-treated cells appeared, such as formation of apoptotic bodies, nuclear blebbing, and DNA fragmentation, indicating that ashwagandha induced programmed cell death in melanoma cell lines
• Okra : A component of Okra, called peptin, which is found under the skin of the pods—is made up of never—before—seen compounds that researchers theorize may help inhibit highly metastatic mouse melanoma cells. This peptin suppressed cancer cell proliferation by 75% just 48 hours after mice were treated. And it increased cancer cell destruction 23-fold.
• St. John's wort : Research in the online medical journal PLoS One, found that an active ingredient known as hypericin was highly effective against the invasive cancer melanoma.
• Caffeine : UV-induced sunburn lesions, which represent a potent risk factor for melanoma, are inhibited by caffeine, which elicits a sunscreen-like effect in rodent studies. Not only does caffeine suppress growth of melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo, but it also up-regulates cell suicide, also known as apoptosis, induced by UV exposure (1). This effectively enhances clearance of defective precancerous cells.
• Mistletoe : Although human trials are conflicting, in vivo and in vitro studies have highlighted anti-tumor effects of mistletoe against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, various carcinomas, and melanoma cells.
• Broccoli : In vitro and in vivo models demonstrate that sulforaphane induces apoptosis, or cell suicide, in melanoma cells, as indicated by predictable morphological changes that occur with cell death, such as condensation and fragmentation of genetic material and a step in cellular disassembly called membrane blebbing.
• Vitamin C : ascorbate, the water-soluble vitamin C, may be helpful by increasing electron flux through the mitochondria, restoring energy production such that apoptosis of cancer cells, which is an energy-intensive process, can occur (29). Vitamin C also optimizes cellular differentiation and intercellular communication, both of which are compromised in a cancerous state and perpetuate tumor growth.

Alternative Treatments

• PC SPES

Warnings

• Melanoma is an especially dangerous type of skin cancer because it is more likely to spread (metastasize). As the aim of skin cancer therapy is to completely remove the cancer, surgery is the most common treatment for melanoma.
• It should be noted that self-treating Cancer (or any other chronic condition) and avoiding or delaying standard care may be resulting in worsening condition or even incurabilty of the disease.

References

• Hata, K. et al. (2000). Differentiation-inducing activity of lupeol, a lupane-type triterpene from Chinese dandelion root (Hokouei-kon), on a mouse melanoma cell line. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 23(8), 962-967
• Singh, N. et al. (1982). Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) A rejuvenator herbal drug which enhances survival during stress (An adaptogen). International Journal of Crude Research, 3, 29-35.
• Singh, N. et al. (1976). Evaluation of ‘adaptogenic’ properties of Withania somnifera. Proceedings of the Indian Pharmacological Society, 17.
• Effect against Human Malignant Melanoma Cells. PLoS One, 10(9), e0137498.
• Shaowei, W. et al. (2015). Caffeine Intake, Coffee Consumption, and Risk of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma. Epidemiology, 26(6), 898-908.
• Gonzalez, M.J. et al. (2010). Mitochondria, energy and cancer: The relationship with Asocrbic acid. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 25, 29-38
• Pandey, K.B., & Rizvi, S.I. (2009). Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxidative Medicine and Cell Longevity, 2(5), 270-278.
• Kuttan, R., Donnelly, P.V., & Di Ferrante, N. (1981). Collagen treated with (+)-catechin becomes resistant to the action of mammalian collagenase. Experientia, 37, 221-223.
• Menon, L.G., Kuttan, R., & Kuttan, G. (1995). Inhibition of lung metastasis in mice induced by B16F10 melanoma cells by polyphenolic compounds. Cancer Letters, 221-225.
• https://www.nature.com/articles/srep11107

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.